Thirteen.org

What Thirteen.org does

THIRTEEN (legally operated by WNET, Tax ID 26-2810489) is the flagship public television station for the New York City tri-state area and the most-watched public television channel in the United States, founded in 1962 and headquartered at 825 Eighth Avenue in Manhattan. The organization distributes arts, culture, news, science, nature, and children's educational programming via four primary surfaces: (i) over-the-air and cable broadcast television, (ii) the THIRTEEN Explore streaming app on iOS, Android, Roku, and Apple TV, (iii) live-stream channels on YouTube TV and Hulu Live, and (iv) national syndication through PBS and American Public Television. Its programming catalog includes long-running, locally-produced series such as Nature (now in its 45th season), American Masters, Great Performances, Cyberchase, Treasures of New York, NYC-Arts, and Reel 13, alongside nationally distributed PBS properties including PBS NewsHour, NOVA, Frontline, Masterpiece, Antiques Roadshow, and the Emmy Award-winning Independent Lens.

Underlying technology is conventional broadcast and web-streaming infrastructure with no disclosed proprietary AI, data, or platform layer. Distribution relies on third-party payment (PayPal), nonprofit form infrastructure (FastAction/NGPVAN), and standard calendar integration (iCal, Google Calendar, Yahoo Calendar). The product surface includes a member-gated streaming tier—THIRTEEN Passport—that unlocks extended on-demand access to the PBS library, plus international channels (THIRTEEN World, NHK World-JAPAN) and a dedicated PBS Kids stream.

THIRTEEN is structured as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization within The WNET Group family of companies (which also includes WLIW21 and NJTV) and operates across three revenue streams: recurring individual memberships beginning at $5/month or $60/year and tiered up through Patron, Innovator's, Director's, Producer's, President's, Chairman's, and Visionary Circles (the top tier requiring $100,000+ annually); corporate underwriting from national and local sponsors (e.g., Ancestry, American Cruise Lines); and government funding, which covers approximately one-third of the operating budget. Membership also includes cultural-institution benefits such as discounts at 80+ museums, theaters, and concert halls across the tri-state region. A Community Engagement division coordinates programming partnerships with 300-plus healthcare, education, arts, culture, and civic organizations, and the station holds BBB Accredited Charity status and a Charity Navigator 4-star rating.

Name

Thirteen.org

Legal name

WNET

Website

https://thirteen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Thirteen.org, operated by WNET, is the flagship public television station for the New York City tri-state area and the most-watched PBS channel in the United States. It delivers commercial-free arts, culture, news, science, and children's programming via broadcast and a multi-platform streaming app, funded primarily by individual memberships and government support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Television Broadcasting

NAICS

Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Basic Cable Networks (MPABAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Educational & Curriculum-Aligned Learning Channels (K–12) (MPABAKAD), Edutainment & Learning-Through-Play Channels (MPABAKAE), Interactive Multimedia Learning Content (Video, Audio, Interactive Lessons) (EDAFACAG)

Keywords

• Public television broadcasting
• Educational programming
• Arts and culture media
• Nonprofit media services
• Digital streaming platform

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership and Individual Donations: THIRTEEN is member-supported, receiving annual contributions from hundreds of thousands of members. Donations range from $5/month sustaining members to major gifts and planned giving.
2. Corporate Underwriting and Sponsorships: National and local corporations and foundations provide general support and underwriting for specific programs and projects.
3. Government Funding: Approximately one third of THIRTEEN's operating budget is derived from government sources.
4. Program Underwriting: Corporate sponsors like Ancestry and American Cruise Lines provide additional funding for specific programs like Antiques Roadshow.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

THIRTEEN is the flagship public television station of The WNET Group, providing commercial-free programming across arts, culture, news, science, nature, and children's content to the New York tri-state area. It distributes content through broadcast, cable, dedicated streaming apps (THIRTEEN Explore), THIRTEEN Passport on-demand access for members, and national PBS distribution channels.

Product overview

Thirteen.org is the digital platform for WNET, the flagship public television station of New York. The offering is a multi-channel media ecosystem comprising a broadcast TV station (THIRTEEN), a streaming membership benefit (THIRTEEN Passport), and a cross-platform mobile app (THIRTEEN Explore). The platform distributes a portfolio of PBS programs including Nature, American Masters, Great Performances, PBS NewsHour, NOVA, Masterpiece, Antiques Roadshow, Independent Lens, and Frontline; locally-produced series like Cyberchase, Treasures of New York, Reel 13, and NYC-Arts; and live streaming channels including THIRTEEN World and NHK World-JAPAN. Revenue is driven by viewer memberships starting at $5/month or $60 annually, which unlocks THIRTEEN Passport for extended on-demand streaming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• THIRTEEN Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• Most-watched public television channel in the nation
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The WNET GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTHIRTEEN is part of The WNET Group family of companies. The WNET Group is the parent organization providing operational support, digital transformation funding, and strategic direction for THIRTEEN as its flagship public television station.
• American Public TelevisionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmerican Public Television distributes THIRTEEN programs nationally, such as The Madame Blanc Mysteries, to public television stations across the country.
• AncestryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing additional funding for Antiques Roadshow programming.
• American Cruise LinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing additional funding for Antiques Roadshow programming.
• Healthcare, Higher Education, Arts and Culture OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2017, WNET's Community Engagement division has held convenings with 300-plus thinkers and doers from organizations representing healthcare, higher education, economic development, arts and culture, social services, legal services, religion, and environmentalism. Independent artists, activists, entrepreneurs, journalists, and community organizers participate in these community conversations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WGBH (GBH): GBH is Boston's flagship PBS station and one of the largest producers of nationally distributed PBS content (Frontline, NOVA, American Experience — co-produced with WNET). Directly comparable as a major-market, member-supported PBS station with original production capabilities.
• WETA: WETA is the flagship PBS station for Washington, D.C. and a major producer of PBS NewsHour alongside WNET. Closely comparable in mission, funding mix (membership, government, underwriting), and tri-state-equivalent large-market broadcast footprint.
• KQED: KQED is the flagship PBS station for the San Francisco Bay Area and a leading producer of national content. Directly comparable as a large-market, member-supported public broadcaster with substantial original production capacity.
• WTTW: WTTW is the flagship PBS station for Chicago, with comparable member-supported funding, local production, and PBS national distribution. Closely comparable large-market PBS station peer.
• WPBT / WXEL (South Florida PBS): South Florida PBS operates a member-supported public television service similar in model to THIRTEEN, with comparable membership tiers, Passport participation, and educational programming distribution.

Broad incumbents

• PBS (Public Broadcasting Service): PBS is the national network that distributes THIRTEEN-produced programming. Functions as both the upstream distributor and a system-wide coordinating body, making it a broad incumbent peer in public broadcasting.
• BBC: The BBC is the world's most prominent publicly funded broadcaster and a natural peer for THIRTEEN's public-service mission, prestige documentary output, and multi-platform distribution model.
• NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation): NHK is Japan's public broadcaster and already partners with THIRTEEN (carrying NHK World-JAPAN on its livestream). Comparable as a mission-aligned public broadcaster producing international news, nature, and cultural content.
• Netflix: Netflix is the dominant commercial streaming competitor for THIRTEEN's documentary, nature, and prestige-drama audiences. Functions as a broad incumbent shaping viewer expectations and bidding for production talent in the same content categories.

Regional players

• CPTV / Connecticut Public: Connecticut Public operates the state's PBS affiliate within the same tri-state media market THIRTEEN anchors. A regional peer competing for overlapping viewer/member audiences in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ThirteenWNET
• Facebookfacebook.com/thirteenWNET
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thirteenwnet

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Thirteen.org